Folding-machine.



F. R, MERRITT. FOLDiNG MACHINE APPLICATION FILED AUG.2. 191s.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET1- r //V l/f N 7 17/52 1 M F. H. MERRITT.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man AUG.2. 1915.

1,258,429. Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

F. R. MERRITT.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-2.1915.

1,258,429. Patented Mar; 5,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- FRANK LR. IiIERRILT, 0F HAV'EELBILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINEI-l'i' A CQBPORATION OF NEYV JERSEY.

UGLELPURATIUN, OF PATTERSON, NEW JERSEY,

I OLDIN G-MA CHINE.

Application filed August 2, 1915.

To all Ito/(om. i6 'Il'tir'f/ concern:

Be it known that I, Foam; ll. lilinanrrrr, a citizen oi the United States, residing atl'larerhill, in the county of Essex and ("State o'li' iljlassachnsetts, have invented ceriain linproremenls in l olding-lllaehines, ot which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings is a specilication. like reference characters on. the drawings imlicating like parts in the several .ligures.

This invention relate-:1: to 'liolding' machines and is herein illustrated in connection with a machine or folding the margins oli pieces of upper stock which are to be incorporated in boots and shoes.

in folding the margins oi pieces of leather it has been aultcinar to an extent to use I()Call(l form folding machines. lVith inachines of this type a. set o'l forms is required the contours oi the operative edges of which must correspond to the contour oil the margin to he ItOltltMl. Thus ill? the machine is equipped with the proper .lOl'lllS to told the margin ot a piece oi, leather of a given shape and it is desired to told the margin of a piece oi dil'i'ercnt shape. a new set of l e-r1115 must be used. Inasmuch as styles o t shoes change ll'tlilltlltlV and most Factories are making several styles at the same time. the necessity for a large number o'l sols o't l'orms quickly arises. The expense, there- 'lore, o'i maintaining a machine of this type is considerable at best and .in many cases prohibitire. The general object of the present invention is to provide a machine which operates like a liorm il olding machine in that .it folds the whole margin at one operation, which shall nevertheless reipiire no liorins.

One feature of the invention comprises a. sectional table or support the sections of which are adjustable so that the operative edn'e oi said table may be caused to assume different curves as may be desired.

()l'her teati'ires oil the invention comprise a sectional folder and a sectional hni't'e which are similarly adjustable.

These and other features oil? the invention including certain details of construction and combinations of parts will he descriljacd in connection with an illustrative machine and pointed out in the appended claims.

ilpccification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 3,153.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,-

Figure l is a side elevation of a machine in which the present invention is embodied, the treadle having been depressed just enough to unhook the latch which holds the table down;

F '2 is a plan at the machine;

Figs. 3, l and 5 are detail elevations of certain parts oi? the machine showing the manner in which the ifOlCl is made; i

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective showing the normal relation of a table section, a folder Secti n and a knife section; I

Fig. I a perspectire showing a clamp for the work and a portion of the creaser.

The. sectional table of the illustrative 1nachine comprises a plurality ol narrow bars 1 which are adjustable longitudinally :in a carrier 8 and may be clalnpeiil in adjusted position by turning a screw 5. When it is desired to adjust the sections oi the table to any given curve, for example to the curve of the throat oi. a circular vamp a templot of the desired shape is first made. such. a' teinplet being indicated at T in Fig. 2. the clamping screw is loosened the throat of the tcinplct pressed against the rear ends of the bars which form the sectional table, and the clamping screw tightened. The bars which IfOlIll the table are all oi? the same length, and consequently the 'lorwa rd end of the sectional table will assume the same curve which is imj'iarted to the rear end, namely. the curve oi the ternplet.

The folder, like the table. comprises a series of narrow sections 9 held in adj ustcd loi'igitudinal position with respect to one another by a clamping screw ll; and the snip ping knife blades 13 are lt'lStQllQCl to the ends oi bars or sections 113 which are of the same width as the sections of the table and ol the folder and are held in adjusted longitudinal position with respect to one another by a clamping screw 15. The sectional knife thus formed, as well as the sectional folder, are adjusted as will presently be described by using the templet in the manner described in connection with the adjustment of the sectional table or support. After the contours oi the operative edges of the table, the 'l older and the knife have been adjusted so that the contours of the edges of the folder and the knife are the same and are complementary to the contoiiir of the edge of the table, the templet 7 is fastened to the lower ends of the posts 17 and serves during the operation of the machine as a creaser over the edge of which the margin of the work is bent. The bars 118 which carry the knife blades 13 are provided each with a lug against which the inner ends of the folders rest so that movement of the sections of the folder to the right, as viewed in the -.ligures, moves the sections of the knife. Projecting downwardly from the rear ends of the knife bars 113 are series of pins 11 which, when said bars are pushed toward the front of the machine strike a stop (not shown). The purpose of this construction is to facilitate resetting of the machine. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 6 that each knife bar 113 registers with a folder section and with a table section. Consequently when the bars 113 are pushed to the left the sections of the folderand of the table more with them and when the temp'let is placed against the other ends of the sections of the table and moved to the right to adjust the table, the folder and knife are adjusted at the same time.

Referring now to Figs, 3, i, 5 and 6, the mode of operation of the machine will be described. The sectional folder, besides its function of bending the work about the edge of the creaser, serves also as a to aid in positioning the work and as a shear member in conjunction witi the sectional knife. At its rear end each section 9 of the folder has a U-shaped end, the upper leg of which points toward the front of the machine; and each upper leg is formed with an incline 19 and a shoulder 21 the shoulder serving as a gage for the edge of the work to be folded, and the incline serving aside from its function of a shear member, to guide and. sup port said edge as the work is being; presented to the machine. The sec ions fl at their rear or right hand ends are directly beneath the bars 113 which carry the blades 13, said blades being arranged. when he folder and knife approach each other to extend between the sections of the folder. As best shown in Fig. 6, each blade 1 is flat on one side and beveled on the other, also the cutting edge of the knife is inclined downwardly from the rear to the front. The flat side of the blade lies close to the adjacent side of the corresponding section 9 of the folder when the folder is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in t, and during this movement one edge of the incline 19 cooperates with the edge of the corresponding blade 13 to snip or slit the edge of the work,

The parts of the machine come to rest with the knife, folder, and templet or creaser in the positions shown in Fig. 3.

The table 1 at this time is not in the position shown but is in lowered position to permit the work 100 to be inserted between said creaser and said table with its forward edge against the shoulder 21 of the folder. The operator then steps upon a treadle whereupon the following movements and operations takes place: The table rises into the position shown in Fig. 3 thereby clamping the work against the lower ends of holding members 23, herein shown as stationary rods the lower ends of which extend through slots 25 in the creaser 7. The folder first moves up to cause the knife to slit the margin of the work and to bend the margin upwardly, and then to the left to bend the margin over the edge of the creaser, the parts being then in the position. shown in Fig. At this point in the operation of the machine the creaser is withdrawn and the folder moved downwardly to press the fold carrying the table with it the parts being; then in the position shown in l 53. Thereafter the folder reverses the move ments which have been describeduntil reaches the position shown in Fig. 3, while the creaser returns to its original, position, the table being held in the position shown in Fig. 5 so that when the parts come to rest the machine is set to permit the folded piece to be removed and an unfolded piece to be presented. iv

Referring now to Figs. 1 and the mechanism by which these cutting, folding and pressing moven'lents are accomplished will described. The carrier 3 in which the sections 1 of the table are mounted is pivoted at 27 to the frame of the machine and is continually urged to swing aboi'it said pivot in a direction to raise the operative end of said table by a spring the tens of which may be varied by turnii 31. A catch 33 fast to said carri ranged to be engaged a l: the proper ti a latch 35 pivoted to the frame at and urged to the left by a spring l Vhen the machine is at rest the latch engages the latch to hold the table in lowered position. In order to trip the latch so as to perm it the spring 29 to raise the table, a second latch a1 is pivoted at to an arm which. is fast to a rock shaft 17, said second latch being urged to swing downwardly by spring This la tch 11 engages at its outer end a pin 51 on the latch 35 and has on. its under side an incline 53 which strikes the end of a screw .55 to disengage the two latches at the proper tion... The shaft t7 is rocked by pulling down an arm 5'? one end of which is fast to said shaft. This arm, when pulled down and released, serves to control a two-revolution clutch (not shown) whereby the shaft 59 is caused to make two revolutions and come to rest. he

depression and release of the arm 57 is brought about by depressing a treadle (not shown) on the end of a chain [31. The chain at its upper end is fast to a. vertically slidable rod 63 to a boss on the. upper end of which is pivoted a latch 65 which engages in its downward movement a hardened pl ate 07 on the arm 57, a screw 69 being located to engage an incline on the end of said latch at the proper time. to swing said latch to one side and thereby release the arm 57. a spring '71 urges said arm upwardly at all. times, but the time when this up ward movement takes place is controlled by a cam 73 on which a roll carried at the end of said arm, runs. The arm 57 is provided with a notch 77 which, when the arm is raised, stops the shaft 59 after two revolutions haw been made. in suitable clutch mechanism may be cmployeijl and for this reasonv the details of the present clutch have not been shown. it will be urulerstood, however. that when the treadle is depres'isial the shaft 59 makes two revolutions and comes to rest. With the latch 35 in engagement with the catch 3-) and the latch ill in engagement with the pin St, the first ell'ect of pulling down. on the chain 01 will be to release the table 1 so as to permit it to rise into the position shown in Fig. l. llurther downward movement of the chain will disconnect the latch ll from the pin 51. thereby releasing the latch 35 which thereupon is returned by thev spring into position to engage the catch 33 again when the table 1 swung downwardly by the folder 9 during the completion of the fold.

Turning now to the folder, the carrier 79 of said folder is fast to or integral with arms 81 having at their outer ends forks which embrace blocks 83, said blocks being pivoted at 85 to the frame of the machine. At their inner ends the arms 81 are pivoted at 87 to an arm 89 the hub of which encircles an eccentric on the shaft 59. Consequently at each revolution of the shaft the folder is moved first up and then down. The pivot 87 also connects the arms 81 with an arm 91 the hub of which encircles an cecentric on the shaft; 93 so that at each revolution of said shaft the folder is moved first to the left and then to the right. The shafts 59 and 93 are connected by gears 95 and 97, the number of teeth on the first gear being one half that of the number of teeth on the second gear so that the gear 97 makes one revolution to every two revolutions of the gear 95. The eccentrics which actuate the arms 89 and 91 are so timed with respect to each other that the folder moves up, then to the left, then down. At this time the shaft 59 has made one revolution, the fold is being pressed and the table 1 has been pulled down to permit the latch 35 to engage the catch 33. During the second revolution of the shaft 59 the folder is moved up, then to the right and then down, after which the machine comes to rest.

After the folder has been moved up and to the left but before it has been moved down completely to press the fold, it is necessary that the creaser 7 be drawn back from the position shown in Fig. at to that shown in Fig. 5. To this end the posts 17 are fixed to a slide 99 mounted in horizontal guideways in the frame of the machine. This slide is connected by a link 101 with a bellv crank lever 103 pivoted to the frame of the machine at 105, the horizontal arm of said lever carrying at its end a roll 107 which runs in a cam track formed on a cam carried by the shaft 93.

In the operation of the machine the contours of the edges of the table, folder and knives are given the proper curvature by loosening the clamping screws 5, 11 and 15 and pressing the templet against the end of the table, as has been described. The clamping screws are then tightened, the templet fastened to the posts 17, and the machine is ready to be operated. As has been explained, the table is normally held down by the latch 35 so as to permit the piece of leather or other stock 100 to be inserted between the templct (which now serves as a creaser) and the table or support 1. The treadlo (not shown) which is attached to the chain 61 is then depressed to pull down the arm 57. The first effect is to trip the latch 35 and allow the table 1 to rise, the parts then being in the position shown in Fig. 1. The further effect is to cause the shaft 59 to make two revolutions whereby the folder and creaser are first moved as shown in Figs. 3, 1 and 5 and are then caused to reverse the movements indicated in those figures. Meantime the latch 11 has been tripped by contact with the screw 55, and the latch 35 is in position to engage the catch 33 so that when the machine comes to rest there is a space between the table and creaser to permit the removal of the folded piece and the insertion of the piece to be folded.

Although the invention has been. set forth in connection with a particular machine, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in the scope of its application to the particular machine shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a table, a folder and a knife, each comprising a plurality of bars adjustable longitudinally with respect to one another.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a table, a folder and a knife, each comprising a plurality of bars adjustable longitudinally with respect to one another, and means for holding said bars in adjusted position.

A machine of the class described having, in combination, a folder comprising a set of longitudinally adjustable bars of small cross-section, and a knife comprising a set of similar bars parallel to the firstnamed bars, there being on each bar of one set a projection located in the path of adjustment of a corresponding bar of the other at. A machine of the class described having, :in combination, a sectional table, a sectional knife, a sectional folder, and means whereby adjustment of the sections of one of the three members effects adjustment of the other two.

5. A. machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, a table comprising a plurality of adjustable sections, and a combined templet and creaser for facilitating the adjustment of the sections of the table and for determining the line of fold of the Work.

6. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, a table, a folder and a knife each comprising a plurality of adjustable sections, and a combined templet and creaser for facilitating adjustment of the sections ofthe table, folder and knife,

and for determining the line of fold of the Work.

7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a table, a folder and a knife each comprising a plurality of longitudinally adjustable bars, and a templet haring the contour of the edge of the Work to be folded whereby pressing the edge of said templet against said bars imparts to the op erative edges of the table, folder and knife the desired contour.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a table, a folder, a knife and a creaser, said table being normally spaced from said creaser to permit insertion of the Work, means for raising said table to clamp the work in position, and means for causing said knife and folder to snip the margin of the Work and bend it over the creaser.

9. ill machine of the class described haying, in combination, a table, a folder, a knife and a creaser, said table being normally spaced from said creaser to permit insertion of the Work, means for raising said table to clamp the Work in position, means for causing said knife and folder to snip the margin of the Work and bend it over the creaser, and means for returning said table to and holding it in its normal position.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a table, a folder, a knife, a creaser, said table being normally spaced from said creaser to permit insertion of the Work, and treadle controlled means for raising the table, causing the knife, folder and creaser to snip and fold the margin of the Work and for returning the table to normal position.

11. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a Work supporting member, a folding member, one of said members comprising adjustable sections, and a combined templet and creaser for facilitating adjustment of the sections and for determining the line of fold of the Work.

12-. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a Work supporting memher, a cutting member, one of said members comprising adjustable sections, and a combined templet and creaser for facilitating adjustment of the sections and for determining the line of fold of the Work.

.ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK It. MERRITT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the tlommissioner of Patents,

Washington, ll]. ll. 

